2015 Media Guide - Richmond International Raceway

Transcription

RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
2015 Media Guide
RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
WWW.RIR.COM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GENERAL INFO
General Info
1
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
30
NSCS Career Track Records .......................31
Dennis Bickmeier, President ....................... 3
NSCS Race Records.................................. 32
“Under the Lights” ..................................... 4
NASCAR XFINITY Series
Media Info
5
NXS Career Track Records ........................ 34
Credentials ................................................. 6
NXS Race Records .................................... 35
Media Parking ............................................ 7
33
TRACK INFO
Track Staff ................................................. 2
MEDIA INFO
Richmond International Raceway hosts two NASCAR weekends every year.
Media Center .............................................. 8
NSCS
Photographer .............................................. 9
Event Information ......................................10
Weekend Schedule.....................................11
NXS
Special Events .......................................... 12
In the Community ..................................... 13
Track Info
14
Track Facts ................................................15
Track Records ............................................16
RIR Timeline ..............................................17
Race Recaps ............................................ 21
2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE | 1
Aimee Turner
Director of
Public Relations
Billy Fellin
Multimedia
Communications Manager
April Lewis
Creative Services
Manager
SALES & MARKETING
Dennis Bickmeier
President
Diane Cahoon
Director of Ticket Operations
Deborah Clemons
Director of Community Affairs
Kristen Kelejian
Ticket Operations Coordinator
Jacque Frame
Executive Assistant to the
President
Megan McGinnis Driscoll
Director of Consumer Marketing
Ellen-Carter Stagg
Consumer Marketing Coordinator
Shawn Stack
Director of Accounting
Fan Engagement Coordinator
Christina Bryant
Staff Accountant
Justin Johnson
Marketing & Sales Coordinator
SALES & MARKETING
OPERATIONS
John Moreland
VP of Sales and Marketing
Jeff Hedrick
Sr. Director of Operations
Louis Gilmore
Sr. Director of Business
Development
Megan Hazzard
Sr. Manager of Event Sales &
Service
Kent Winter
Director of Corporate Partnership
Pepper Wilson
Event Sales & Service Manager
Mike Richards
Sr. Manager of Business
Development
Tiny Dawson
Guest Services Manager
Scott Byer
Manager of Business Development
TRACK INFO
ACCOUNTING
NSCS
ADMINISTRATION
NXS
MEDIA INFO
GENERAL INFO
RIR TRACK STAFF
Nicolle Guinan
Corporate Sales & Service
Executive
Suzanne Longest
Operations Coordinator
Linwood Burrow
Director of Track Operations
Matt Wise
Track Operations Maintenance
Ed Booth
Mechanic
2 | 2015 RIR MEDIA GUIDE
Ryan Trapp
Communications
Coordinator
Tommy Johnson
Maintenance Manager
Jimmy Hays
Event Operations Maintenance
Julius Atkins
Melvin Lambert
Dennis Eggleston
Charles Nelson
Manuel Gonzalez
George Honeycutt
Randy Camden
Painter
Bruce McCauley
Electrician
RIR TRACK PRESIDENT
Dennis Bickmeier
A native Ohioan, Bickmeier is a graduate
of the prestigious Ohio University Scripps
School of Journalism. He also holds a
master’s degree in Sports Administration
from Ohio University.
TRACK INFO
NSCS
His career with International Speedway
Corporation initially began in 1999 as
the Public Relations Director at Auto Club
Speedway. During his time at the Southern
California-based speedway, Bickmeier
became an adjunct faculty member in
the University of San Francisco’s Sports
Management class teaching the Strategic
Communications and Sports Public Relations
elective.
clients like the AT&T Champions Classic,
Phoenix International Raceway and Brener,
Zwikel and Associates.
MEDIA INFO
Dennis Bickmeier became the third President
of Richmond International Raceway in July
2011. Prior to joining RIR, Bickmeier spent
nearly four years as the Vice President of
Consumer Sales and Marketing at Michigan
International Speedway, where he oversaw
communications, corporate partnership sales
and ticket sales and operations.
GENERAL INFO
President: 2011-Present
Twitter: @RIRPrez
Email: president@rir.com
Family: Wife, Erin, and children: Joshua
(8), Kaitlyn (5), Nathan (3)
NXS
Over his 24-year Sports Management Career,
Bickmeier spent time with the former
Anaheim Angels, now the Los Angeles
Angels of Anaheim, and the Mighty Ducks of
Anaheim, both Walt Disney Company-owned
franchises at the time. He has also held
positions with the Big West Conference, Los
Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Bickmeier has also served as a sports public
relations and marketing consultant for
NXS
NSCS
TRACK INFO
MEDIA INFO
GENERAL INFO
UNDER THE LIGHTS
RIR has featured some of the best night racing around since lights were added to the facility in 1991.
One of the most historic tracks in racing is also
one of the most popular among drivers, fans and
media. Year after year, Richmond International
Raceway puts on the best short track show, and
some of the best racing anywhere.
weekends, featuring the Nationwide and the Sprint
Cup Series. Each of the four races are held at
night “under the lights.” Richmond International
Raceway will also host its first NASCAR K&N Pro
Series East race in April.
Richmond’s unique, ¾-mile layout produces
tremendous side-by-side racing, yet drivers obtain
high enough speeds to give it a superspeedway
feel. That rare combination still allows for the
beating and banging that fans love, with the
drivers’ skill playing a major role in winning.
The fall Sprint Cup Series race is one of the
marquee events on the schedule. Since the 2004
inception of The Chase, NASCAR’s 10-race playoff
for the championship, RIR has hosted the “cut-off”
race before The Chase. After the 26th race, only
12 drivers will be eligible for The Chase, making
Richmond’s second Sprint Cup event “One Last
Race to Make the Chase.”
In the words of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series icon
Rusty Wallace, those characteristics help make
racing at the track and the experience fans have
while visiting, simply “perfect.”
RIR has been a fixture on the NASCAR schedule
since 1953, when Lee Petty won the first NASCAR
“Grand National Division” race on the ½-mile
dirt track known as the Atlantic Rural Exposition
Fairgrounds.
Since then, the track has undergone four name
changes, five configuration changes and one
surface change, from dirt to asphalt. The current
¾-mile, D-shaped oval was constructed in 1988,
when the facility also took on its current name.
Lights were added to the facility in 1991.
RIR annually hosts two NASCAR Doubleheader
In 2010, RIR installed a state-of-the-art video
scoring tower as part of the track’s continuing
effort to improve the fan experience. Visible from
every grandstand seat at America’s Premier Short
Track, the entire structure stands 153 feet tall and
features four LED video screens at the peak. At
153-feet high, it is the tallest in all of motorsports.
Join Richmond International Raceway’s social
media following for updates and news throughout
the season by following us on Twitter (@
RIRInsider) or liking us on Facebook (facebook.
com/richmondinternationalraceway).
MEDIA INFO
NXS
NSCS
TRACK INFO
MEDIA INFO
GENERAL INFO
CREDENTIALS
To request credentials for any events held at Richmond International Raceway, email Director of
Communications Aimee Turner (aturner@rir.com) with your request. Please include the name(s) of who
will be attending the event, the media outlet represented, a telephone number they can be reached at and
number of parking passes requested. Internet and other new media requests should inlcude a hyperlink to
their site’s homepage on their requests as well.
All credential requests should be submitted at least three weeks prior to the event. Credentials, stickers
and parking passes can be mailed a few weeks before our race weekends (early-April, late-August), or
held at the Credentials Office on property. Located inside the Service Gate off Richmond-Henrico Turnpike,
the Credentials Office is open from 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Monday through Thursday of event week, 6:00
A.M. - 8:00 P.M. the day of our Friday event and 10:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M. the day of our Saturday event.
Different credentials allow for different access times and locations. Please adhere to the guidelines listed
below:
•
Infield Pass (I) - Access to Grandstands and Infield only. None to the Garage or Pit Road areas.
•
Pit Pass (P) - Access to Grandstands, Infield and Pit Road. Access to Pit Road expires one hour
before the green flag waves for Sprint Cup events. Not allowed into the garage areas.
•
COLD Pass - Access to Infield, Pit Road and both Garage areas. Access to Pit Road and the Sprint
Cup Garage expires one hour before the green flag waves for Sprint Cup events. Does not allow
admission into the Grandstands.
•
HOT Pass - Access to Infield, Pit Road and both Garage areas. Does not allow admission into the
Grandstands.
•
Stickers - Credentials must have corresponding stickers in order to access the following areas:
Media Center (MC), Pre-Race Ceremonies (PRE), Victory Lane (VL), TV Locations (TV), Roof (RF),
Press Box (PB), Suites (STE), TORQUE Club (TORQUE) and other Hospitality Areas (H).
Failure to follow these rules and regulations might result in removal from the race, and could impace
future ability to obtain credentials.
MEDIA PARKING
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PRESS BOX PARKING
The Press Box parking lot is located adjacent to Lot D just outside of the Turn 1 Gate. Vehicles with a Press
Box Parking pass should enter the property through Gate 6 on Carolina Ave.
HENRICO PARKING
Henrico Parking is located behind the backstretch, adjacent to Lot F. Vehicles with a Henrico Parking pass
should enter the property at either Gate 10 or the Service Gate, located off of Richmond-Henrico Turnpike,
and follow the signage to the lot. A tram will run from the lot to the Infield regularly throughout the day.
NOTE: For quick entry into the lots, please hang your parking pass on your rearview
mirror BEFORE you arrive at RIR.
NXS
Due to congestion in the Infield, Infield Parking permits are not distributed for Friday night events.
Henrico-Infield Parking passes allow holders to park in the Henrico lot Friday and the Infield on Saturday.
Parking in the Infield is limited, so passholders will be allowed entry based on space. Additionally, proper
credentials are required for ALL passengers in vehicles using the Infield parking space. Vehicles with
an Infield Parking pass should enter the property at either Gate 10 or the Service Gate, located off of
Richmond-Henrico Turnpike, and follow the signage to the Infield.
NSCS
INFIELD PARKING
TRACK INFO
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MEDIA INFO
RIC
PRESS
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PARKING
TRACK INFO
MEDIA INFO
GENERAL INFO
MEDIA CENTER
MEDIA CENTER HOURS
Media Center will open at noon on Thursday, April 24, 7 a.m. on Friday, April 25, and 10 a.m. on Saturday,
April 26. The Media Center has a deadline room and a photo/PR room. Seating in the deadline room is
reserved in advance. Meals will be served in the media center throughout the day, and are intended for
working media only.
INTERNET ACCESS
High-speed Internet access is available at each seat in the Media Center and Press Box by either using the
blue network cables provided or through wireless service. We also have an on-site tech team from ISC that
manages our system. To access the wireless Internet, please use the following username and password:
Username: Media
Password: ISCtrk$!
NSCS
MEDIA AVAILABILITIES
NASCAR and other industry personnel will hold media availabilities in the Media Center on event
weekends. The top-three finishers from all races and top-three finishers from qualifying are among the
expected availabilites each weekend.
NXS
PHOTO ROOM & MEETINGS
A Photo/PR room can be accessed through the main entrance to the media center. You must have a media
center sticker to access this area. In order to shoot throughout RIR, you must have the appropriate photo
vest. Photographers MUST attend a photo meeting to get their vest. Meetings will be held in the Photo
Room at the following times:
•
Friday, April 24: 7:25 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.
•
Saturday, April 25: 3:00 p.m.
PHOTOGRAPHERS
INFIELD PHOTOGRAPHY
GRANDSTANDS PHOTOGRAPHY
Shooting from the grandstands is permitted on Friday night races only. Photographers are allowed to shoot
from the concourse area, so long as they shoot from their knees. This includes during cautions, as to not
impede the sightline of our guests onto the track and pit road.
REMOTE CAMERAS
All remote cameras or Go-Pros have to be approved by the Track Photographer John Harrelson
(john@harrelsonphoto.com) and NASCAR prior to the event.
backstretch
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MEDIA INFO
PHOTO PLATFORMS
GENERAL INFO
Vested photographers can shoot from any empty pit boxes during events. In order to shoot from a working
pit box the photographer MUST have prior approval from the team’s crew chief. Photographers are only
allowed to shoot between the first and last pit stall on pit road. Going up into the turns is NOT permitted.
Only NASCAR photographers are allowed to shoot from the flagstand.
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NXS
There are five (5) elevated platforms located
in the Infield where vested photographers are
permitted to shoot from (as indicated by the green
squares on the map above). Photo vests must be
worn at all times when using the photo towers.
Space on the towers is limited, please work with
your fellow photographers to ensure everyone is
able to get the shots they need. Photo towers are
for working photographers only. Do not use the
towers as a resting spot to watch the race.
DOGWOOD TOWER
Additionally, vested photographers are allowed to shoot from the roof on top of the Dogwood Suites.
Photographers can access the roof via the elevator located just inside the Turn 1 Gate. Shooting is allowed
from the fully enclosed rooftop platforms, indicated in the above image.
This April marks the third running of the TOYOTA OWNERS 400 NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series race, which has showcased some of the best shorttrack, “under the lights” racing in NASCAR. Last year’s winner and
Daytona 500 champ Joey Logano will try and defend his crown, earned
in last year’s thrilling finish.
Date: April 25, 2015
Start Time: 7:00 P.M.
Broadcast: FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM 90
Race Length: 400 laps (300 miles)
Qualifying: Crispy M&M’s Pole Qualifying
Toyota and RIR announced last February that Toyota would continue
their entitlement sponsorship of both Spring races for future seasons.
Previous Winners: Joey Logano (2014); Kevin Harvick (2013)
NXS
NSCS
TRACK INFO
MEDIA INFO
GENERAL INFO
EVENT INFORMATION
Like Saturday’s event, April 24th will mark the third consecutive running
of the ToyotaCare 250. Young guns, like defending series champion Chase
Elliott, will take on battle-tested veterans like defending race winner Kevin
Harvick in the series where names are made.
The 2015 ToyotaCare 250 marks the first time NASCAR’s new title sponsor
XFINITY comes to Richmond.
Previous Winners: Kevin Harvick (2014); Brad Keselowski (2013)
Date: April 24, 2015
Start Time: 7:30 P.M.
Broadcast: FS1, MRN Radio,
SiriusXM 90
Race Length: 250 laps (187.5 miles)
Qualifying: WRIC TV8 Pole Qualifying
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
GENERAL INFO
MEDIA INFO
TRACK INFO
NSCS
NXS
GENERAL INFO
SPECIAL EVENTS
NSCS
TRACK INFO
MEDIA INFO
TRACK TAKEOVER POWERED BY NATIONWIDE
Track Takeover is back and this time it’s powered by Nationwide!
All TOYOTA OWNERS 400 ticket holders can put their feet on
the pavement just hours before the green flag waves! Sign the
start/finish line, check out interactive and educational displays,
You’ll also get to hear from Nationwide 88 driver, Dale Earnhardt
Jr., during an exclusive Q&A session!
2ND ANNUAL POST-RACE PARTY
All ticketholders are invited to the Post-Race Party on the Track,
featuring music and a prime spot to see the Chase for the NASCAR
Sprint Cup celebration. Come out onto the Action Track after the
Federated Auto Parts 400 and partywith the 16 drivers who raced
their way into the 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The drivers
will be introduced on stage, followed by a group photo, confetti
celebration, glimmering lights, and eye-catching pyro.
TURN LEFT GOLF CLASSIC
PRESENTED BY
A preeminent charity golf event in the region, the Turn Left Golf Classic
is a partnership with the Richmond Flying Squirrels and Richmond
International Raceway. This fun day on the course benefits the charity
arms of both organizations and helps us continue our mission of
making a difference in the Commonwealth.
NXS
DATES TO KNOW
Track Laps
May 17
Turn Left Golf Classic
June 15
Virginia529 College Savings 250 Sept. 11
Federated Auto Parts 400
Sept. 12
Track Laps
Sept. 27
IN THE COMMUNITY
GENERAL INFO
RIR Cares is a Donor Advised Fund of
The NASCAR Foundation
Each year, RIR Cares provides support to non-profit organizations and
charitable causes to help better the Greater Richmond Metropolitan Area
and the surrounding communities. Thanks to the success of fundraising
events such as Track Laps and the Turn Left Golf Classic, RIR Cares
raised $26,994 in 2014. Along with helping these organizations
monetarily, the RIR staff accumulated more than 600 volunteer hours in
2014, participating in programs such as Meals on Wheels, Drive for Life
Blood Drive, YMCA Bright Beginnings, Read Across America, Bowl for
the Green for Junior Achievement, monthly Henrico County Neighborhood
Cleanup, and many, many more.
MEDIA INFO
RIR CARES
TRACK INFO
NSCS
Richmond International Raceway is proud to partner with NASCAR in their “Race to Green” program,
which launches the Monday of our April race week. This program asks fans, industry members and
partners to join NASCAR and RIR in reducing their impact on the environment by raising awareness,
teaching how to live a more sustainable lifestyle and acting on green initiatives. With Earth Day (April
22) and Arbor Day (April 24) raising nationwide awareness heading
into our race weekend, we’ll carry that momentum into the TOYOTA
OWNERS 400 and NASCAR’s Race to Green on April 25.
NXS
NASCAR RACE TO GREEN
SPECIAL EVENTS
TRACK INFO
TRACK FACTS
GENERAL INFO
TRACK INFO
NSCS
NXS
MEDIA INFO
TRACK: Three-Quarter Mile “D” Shaped Oval
WIDTH: 60 feet with a 10-foot apron.
BANKING: 14° in turns; 8° degrees at starting line; 2° degrees on 860-foot back stretch and
1290-foot front stretch
RADIUS OF TURNS: Turns One and Four: 1198.68. Turns Two and Three: 365.00
PIT ROAD: 64-foot width with 43 concrete pit stalls 28’ x 19’.
PARKING: RIR has more than 800 acres of free parking.
SAFER WALLS: Added in 2003. Each section of the SAFER wall measures 28’ wide, and the
walls extend 30” out from the original concrete wall. The SAFER walls stand 40.5” high.
TICKETS: 866-455-RACE (7223) or visit www.rir.com
WEBSITE: www.rir.com. Fans can email questions or comments to ririnfo@rir.com.
MEDIA: Infield media center with two deadline rooms and two radio rooms. Public relations
trailer, television/radio trailer and photographers’ trailer. The Press Box for deadline writers
is located on the suite level in Turn 1. Five infield photo towers and two locations on the roof
above the Press Box are available for photographers, along with a photo trailer adjacent to
the media center.
LOCATION: 600 East Laburnum Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23222.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Aimee Turner, Director of Public Relations:
804-228-7645 (O), 804-513-0733 (Mobile), aturner@rir.com
Billy Fellin, Multimedia Communications Manager:
804-228-7507 (O), 804-852-0071 (Mobile), wfellin@rir.com
Ryan Trapp, Communications Coordinator:
804-228-7614 (O), 804-543-5384 (Mobile), rtrapp@rir.com
TRACK RECORDS
Richmond International Raceway Track Records
NASCAR SPRINT
CUP SERIES
NASCAR XFINITY
SERIES
Fastest Qualifier
Race Average
Jeff Gordon
Vallejo, CA
20.674 seconds
130.599 mph
September 6, 2004
Federated Auto Parts 400
Dale Jarrett
Newton, NC
2 hours, 45 minutes, 04 seconds
109.047 mph
Sept. 6, 1997
Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400
Fastest Qualifier
Race Average
Kyle Busch
Las Vegas, NV
20.874 seconds
129.348 mph
May 13, 2004
FUNAI 250
Dale Jarrett
Newton, NC
1 hour, 47 minutes, 13 seconds
104.928 mph
Sept. 8, 1995
Autolite Platinum 250
NXS
NSCS
TRACK INFO
MEDIA INFO
GENERAL INFO
- 3/4-mile Configuration -
RIR TIMELINE
There are many unforgettable races and decisions that helped make Richmond International Raceway America’s Premier
Short Track. Below is a timeline of some of the key events in Richmond International Raceway history.
April 19, 1953: Lee Petty wins the first NASCAR “Grand
National Division” race with an average of 45.535
mph at Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds. Petty
led from flag to flag in the 100-mile, two-hour, elevenminute, 46-second race. Buck Baker wins the pole in
an Oldsmobile at a speed of 48.465 mph. Petty collects
$1,000 for the win, while last-place finisher Coleman
Lawrence collects $25. Since it is well before the days of
electronic timing and scoring, the box score indicates a
tie for 16th place between Ralph Liguori and Slick Smith.
1959: The track begins hosting two NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series events each season and has continued to do so
since.
April 23, 1961: Richard Petty wins his first of a record
13 races at Richmond.
September 7, 1969: Track is re-measured at .542-mile,
a distance that would remain constant until the track
was rebuilt to its current ¾-mile configuration in 1988.
Race length is 462 laps.
September 13, 1970: Richard Petty wins the first of
seven consecutive and nine out of 10 straight races at
Richmond. Race is lengthened again to 500 laps, 271
miles.
February 27, 1972: Bobby Allison wins the first of five
consecutive pole positions at Richmond. Both Allison
and Richard Petty would go on to capture an all-time
track record eight poles and Allison would post seven
victories, second only to Petty’s 13. Finishing 20th in his
first Richmond race is Richard Childress.
September 10, 1972: Bobby Allison taps Richard Petty
from behind, sending “The King” up on the guardrail,
where he hits a backup fence and bounces back onto
the racetrack. Petty never loses his composure or the
lead and goes on to win the race, his fifth in a row at
Richmond.
September 10, 1961: Fall races at Richmond are
lengthened from 100 miles to 125 miles (250 laps).
April 1, 1962: Spring races are lengthened from 100
miles to 125 miles (250 laps).
NSCS
September 9, 1962: Fall races are now 150 miles (300
laps). Joe Weatherly wins the first of two consecutive
races at Richmond. The box scores indicate he won each
race by “1 lap plus.” Attendance is estimated at 15,000.
NXS
March 10, 1964: Many think the first Richmond night
race was contested in September 1991; however, this
race was run on a Tuesday night with temporary lights
after a Saturday night rain-out.
1967: Track becomes known as “Virginia State
Fairgrounds.”
March 24, 1968: David Pearson wins the final race on
dirt at the facility. Pearson won six career races at
Richmond.
September 8, 1968: Richard Petty wins the first race on
the newly paved .625-mile track. The race is 187.5 miles
(300 laps).
TRACK INFO
June 5, 1960: “The King” Richard Petty competes in his
first race at Richmond. He finishes sixth. Included in the
group in front of Petty was Ned Jarrett (third), Glen Wood
(fifth) and Petty’s father, Lee, who won the race.
April 13, 1969: Track is re-measured at ½-mile. Race
length is 250 miles (500 laps).
MEDIA INFO
1955: Paul Sawyer and legendary racer Joe Weatherly
buy the property. Track is known as “Atlantic Rural
Fairgrounds.”
1969: Track becomes known as “Richmond Fairgrounds
Raceway.”
GENERAL INFO
October 12, 1946: Driving an open-wheel car, Ted
Horn wins the first race at Atlantic Rural Exposition
Fairgrounds on a ½-mile track.
“The King” has a long track-record of success at
Richmond International Raceway.
NXS
NSCS
TRACK INFO
MEDIA INFO
GENERAL INFO
RIR TIMELINE
February 24, 1974: NASCAR shortens several races by
10% to help offset a national energy crisis. Shortened
from 271 to 243.9 miles, Bobby Allison snaps Richard
Petty’s streak of wins at Richmond and edges “The
King” by four seconds, the closest margin of victory to
that point.
October 12, 1975: Darrell Waltrip records his first
win at Richmond, beating Lennie Pond by more than
a lap. Benny Parsons won the pole but finished 18th.
Surprisingly, Richard Petty’s dominance comes to an
end. He finishes last (28th) after an engine problem.
March 7, 1976: Race is shortened to 216.8 miles (400
laps). The 400-lap distance has remained through
today, even when the track was reconfigured to ¾-mile
in 1988.
March 11, 1979: Dale Earnhardt makes his debut at
Richmond.
February 24, 1980: The purse at Richmond tops
$100,000 for the first time. Darrell Waltrip wins the race
in his famous Gatorade Chevrolet and collects $17,800.
Waltrip posted six career wins at Richmond.
February 20, 1982: Tommy Houston wins the inaugural
“Late Model Sportsman Division” race at Richmond. The
series would become known as the Busch Series, Grand
National Division in 1984.
February 26, 1984: The legend of Ricky Rudd begins.
A little more than a week after sustaining serious
facial injuries in a crash at Daytona and then running a
qualifying race there using tape to hold his eyes open,
Rudd shows up at Richmond with two black and blue
eyes at the Miller High Life 400. Rusty Wallace makes
his Richmond debut and finishes 16th.
February 24, 1985: Dale Earnhardt earns his first
victory at Richmond, just .3 seconds ahead of Geoff
Bodine.
February 23, 1986: With just three laps to go, race
leader Dale Earnhardt clips the rear quarter panel of
Darrell Waltrip after Waltrip overtakes him in Turn
Three. The accident sends Waltrip into the guardrail
and Kyle Petty into the lead and onto Victory Lane for
his first NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory. Petty joins
his father Richard and grandfather Lee as winners at
Richmond. Richmond International Raceway is the only
track where all three have won races in NASCAR’s top
division.
September 12, 1987: Mark Martin wins the first of a
record five NASCAR Busch Series races at Richmond.
From 1969 to 1988, RIR was known as Richmond
Fairgrounds Raceway
1988: Track becomes known as “Richmond International
Raceway.”
February 21, 1988: A massive reconstruction begins,
as the track is reconfigured to ¾-mile and the seating
capacity is expanded to 50,000. Bulldozers, including
one driven by Richard Petty, begin work on the project
immediately following completion of the Pontiac
Excitement 400.
March 26, 1989: Rusty Wallace wins the first of
a record six races at Richmond on the ¾-mile
configuration.
February 25, 1990: Mark Martin wins his first and
only NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at Richmond
International Raceway (to date), edging Dale Earnhardt
by three seconds. Martin’s car fails to pass post-race
inspection due to an illegal part on the car. Martin is
docked points that would end up costing him what
would (to date) be his only championship title.
September 7, 1991: Harry Gant wins the first NASCAR
Winston Cup Series race under permanent lights at
Richmond.
March 8, 1992: With a capacity crowd of 58,000,
Richmond International Raceway sells out for the
Pontiac Excitement 400.
September 10, 1994: Ted Musgrave completes a pole
sweep but fails to finish in the top 10 for either race.
To date, no other driver has ever won the pole for both
Richmond races in the same year since.
September 7, 1995: Terry Labonte wins the first
RIR TIMELINE
December 1, 1999: International Speedway Corporation
purchases Richmond International Raceway and the
surrounding property from Paul Sawyer.
June 29, 2001: Jaques Lazier wins the pole for the
inaugural SunTrust Indy Challenge at a blistering speed
of 160.417 mph (16.831 seconds). It is the Indy Racing
League’s first appearance on a track shorter than one
mile.
May 3, 2002: Ward Burton sets a new NASCAR Winston
Cup Series track record with a lap of 21.194 seconds
(128.388 mph) during qualifying for the Pontiac
Excitement 400.
May 15, 2004: Fans pack Richmond International
Raceway, marking the 25th consecutive sellout for
NASCAR’s top series, now known as the NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series.
September 11, 2004: Jeremy Mayfield wins the Chevy
Rock & Roll 400 in dramatic fashion, as he races his
way into the top 10 and earns a berth in the inaugural
“Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.”
September 9, 2006: Kasey Kahne finishes third and
claims the 10th spot in the Chase for the NASCAR
Sprint Cup. Tony Stewart, who was previously in the top
10 in points, is knocked out of The Chase.
May 6, 2007: Richmond International Raceway hosts
its 31st consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series sellout,
which coincides with the all-new Commonwealth Tower
and TORQUE Club. Sports history is made, as a fan’s
name is part of the official race title: the Crown Royal
Presents The Jim Stewart 400 race. Jimmie Johnson
records his first Richmond victory in daylight, as the
race was postponed one day due to inclement weather.
TRACK INFO
October 2002: Seating capacity is expanded to
105,000. General parking, handicapped parking, guest
services booths and pedestrian walkways are added
or expanded. Spectator gates are widened, prominent
gate signage is constructed, an elevator is added and
the service program for guests with disabilities is
improved.
Fall 2003: 1,400 seats are added for the 2004 season,
raising the total capacity to 107,097. A drainage system
and repaving project is added as part of the capital
improvement project. Also added are a 55-acre parking
lot, an additional spectator care center and a new
driver/owner RV lot.
MEDIA INFO
September 8, 2001: Virginia native Ricky Rudd loses
the lead after being bumped from behind by Kevin
Harvick in the waning laps of the race. With just six laps
to go, Rudd bumps Harvick back from behind to re-take
the lead en route to a trip to Victory Lane for his second
win at Richmond.
Summer 2003: Improvements for the drivers are made,
including SAFER wall barriers, the new Infield Care
Center, freshly concreted pit stalls, a centrally located
spotter’s stand and a new perimeter racetrack fence.
GENERAL INFO
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Richmond.
September 11, 1999: Future NASCAR Winston Cup
Series champion Tony Stewart wins his first ever
NASCAR Winston Cup Series race by defeating
teammate Bobby Labonte.
NSCS
NXS
NXS
NSCS
TRACK INFO
MEDIA INFO
GENERAL INFO
RIR TIMELINE
May 3, 2008: The Crown Royal Presents The Dan Lowry
400 featured one of the wildest endings in Richmond
history. After Denny Hamlin led virtually the entire race
in front of his hometown crowd, a flat tire gave Dale
Earnhardt Jr. the lead. Earnhardt Jr.’s last win, prior to
this race, came at the inaugural Crown Royal 400 in
May 2006. Victory looked to be within his grasp, but
he and Kyle Busch made contact in the closing laps,
as Clint Bowyer squeaked by the two and captured the
checkered flag. “Junior Nation” subsequently voiced
their displeasure with Kyle Busch.
September 7, 2008: Jimmie Johnson successfully
defends his Chevy Rock & Roll 400 title in a race that
was delayed one day due to inclement weather from
Tropical Storm Hanna. The victory was Johnson’s third
in four races at Richmond and gave him momentum
leading into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. He
would go on to win his third consecutive Sprint Cup
Series championship.
May 2, 2009: Kyle Busch completes the Richmond
weekend sweep, winning the Crown Royal Presents
The Russ Friedman 400 a night after also winning the
Nationwide Series race. Prior to Busch, the last driver
to sweep a weekend at Richmond was Kevin Harvick in
September 2006.
September 12, 2009: “One Last Race to Make The
Chase” once again lives up to its billing as one of the
most important and thrilling races on the entire Sprint
Cup Series schedule. The Chase field is unsettled until
the final lap, as Brian Vickers edges Kyle Busch by just
eight points for the 12th spot in NASCAR’s playoffs.
Denny Hamlin finally takes the checkered flag in a
Sprint Cup Series race at his hometown track.
January 15, 2010: Track officials break ground on
a new state-of-the-art video scoring tower, which
debuted during the Spring NASCAR weekend. Designed
by Panasonic, the entire structure stands 153 feet tall
and features four LED video screens at the peak. At
153-feet high, it is the tallest in motorsports. Each
video screen measures 38’ wide by 24’ high.a new
state-of-the-art video scoring tower, which debuted
during the Spring NASCAR weekend. Designed by
Panasonic, the entire structure stands 153 feet tall and
features four LED video screens at the peak. At 153feet high, it is the tallest in motorsports. Each video
screen measures 38’ wide by 24’ high.
Summer 2012: Richmond celebrates its 60th year
hosting NASCAR.
September 6, 2013: Brad Keselowski sweeps the
NASCAR Nationwide Series races ar Richmond, winning
both the ToyotaCare 250 in the Fall, and the Virginia529
College Savings 250 in the Spring. The Spring race also
marked the 1,000th race in the NASCAR Nationwide
Series.
Summer 2014: Richmond launches two new fanfocused events, Track Takeover in April and and PostRace Party in September, both to industry-recognized
success.
RACE RECAPS
GENERAL INFO
May 5, 1957: Paul Goldsmith takes the lead from
Fireball Roberts on Lap 160 and leads a pack of Fords
to victory in front of 4,000 spectators. The race,
which paid $700, ended in only 1 hour, 36 minutes, 5
seconds.
Lee Petty - April 19, 1953
April 29, 1956: An estimated crowd of 5,000 sees
Buck Baker start from the pole and lead 198 of 200
laps at Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds. Baker
takes home the first-place prize of $1,100.
June 5, 1960: “The King” Richard Petty competes in
his first race at Richmond and finishes sixth. Richard’s
father, Lee, takes the lead on Lap 183, finishing ahead
of NASCAR legends Rex White and Ned Jarrett.
October 23, 1960: Speedy Thompson drives a Wood
Brothers Ford to victory in front of an estimated 7,500
spectators. The margin of victory is listed at ¼ lap over
Junior Johnson. At 1 hour, 34 minutes, 8 seconds, the
race is the shortest in Richmond history.
April 23, 1961: Richard Petty wins his first of a record
NXS
May 22, 1955: Tim Flock takes the lead on lap 78 of
200 in his Chrysler, winning the race in 1 hour, 50
minutes, 30 seconds. Only two other drivers finished on
the lead lap: Fonty Flock and Lee Petty.
September 13, 1959: Cotton Owens leads from the
pole to the checkered flag, besting Lee Petty at an
average speed of 60.382 mph. Virginian Junie Donlavey
fields a car for Runt Harris, who finishes fifth.
NSCS
April 19, 1953: Lee Petty wins the first race in the
NASCAR division that today is known as the NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series. Petty wins the $1,000 prize with
an average speed of 45.535 mph over a ½-mile dirt
track known as Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds,
leading 200 laps to win.
June 21, 1959: Tom Pistone leads all 200 laps in his
Rupert Safety Belt T-Bird, beating Virginia legend
Glen Wood. The race marks the beginning of Richmond
hosting two Cup events per season, which has
remained intact through today.
TRACK INFO
September 14, 1958: Speedy Thompson wins the pole
at 62.915 mph and reclaims the lead on Lap 188 to
edge Lee Petty for the win. The famed Joe Weatherly
leads 21 laps before a head gasket blows.
MEDIA INFO
Richmond International Raceway will host its 118th NASCAR Cup race on April 25 when the NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series drivers take the green flag in the TOYOTA OWNERS 400. Entering the 2014 season, only Daytona International
Speedway (133) and Martinsville Speedway (129) have hosted more points-paying Cup events.
NXS
NSCS
TRACK INFO
MEDIA INFO
GENERAL INFO
RACE RECAPS
Richmond International Raceway - April 29, 1956
13 races at Richmond, leading Laps 19-200. Only 12
cars ran the race and Petty won by more than a lap.
September 10, 1961: Joe Weatherly wins the first
250-lap, 125-mile race at Richmond on the ½-mile dirt
track. In a Pontiac, Weatherly led every lap en route to
a $1,350 prize. Promoter Paul Sawyer triples the prize
money which helps more than double the field from 12
to 25.
April 1, 1962: Rex White wins the Richmond 250 in a
race that was shortened by rain to 180 laps. The race
included six different leaders, including Richard Petty,
Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson.
September 9, 1962: Fall races are lengthened again
to 150 miles (300 laps), although Spring races remain
at 125 miles for years to come. Joe Weatherly leads
every lap of the Capital City 300 among a field of 33, in
front of an estimated crowd of 15,000. Weatherly earns
$2,000 for the win.
April 7, 1963: Joe Weatherly wins his second
consecutive race at Richmond, again winning by more
than a lap. The race featured ten lead changes among
four drivers.
September 8, 1963: Joe Weatherly makes a bid for
another win, leading 145 laps before an engine problem.
Ned Jarrett wins by more than two laps at an average
speed of 66.339 mph.
March 10, 1964: A historic race at Richmond. Many
think the first Richmond night race was contested
in September 1991; however, this race was run on a
Tuesday night with temporary lights after a Saturday
rain-out. David Pearson takes the checkered flag
after assuming the lead on Lap 215 from Richard
Petty. Competing in his first race at Richmond, Ralph
Earnhardt finishes 22nd.
September 14, 1964: Cotton Owens finishes more
than a lap ahead of David Pearson to win the Capital
City 300 in front of an estimated 8,500 fans. The race,
which was #53 of a record 62-race schedule, featured
five cautions for 23 laps.
March 7, 1965: Junior Johnson won the pole and took
the lead for good on Lap 141 to win the Richmond 250,
18 seconds ahead of Buck Baker.
September 18, 1965: David Pearson wins by more than
a lap after starting second behind Dick Hutcherson.
Thirty-seven cars—more than any previous race at
Richmond—enter the field.
May 15, 1966: David Pearson leads the final 132 laps to
win the Richmond 250 ahead of Richard Petty in front
of a 4,500-person crowd.
September 11, 1966: David Pearson wins his third
consecutive race at Richmond, beating Buck Baker by
more than five laps in a Dodge.
April 30, 1967: The race marks the first at the newlynamed Virginia State Fairgrounds. Richard Petty starts
on the pole and wins by 20 seconds over Bobby Allison.
September 10, 1967: Richard Petty wins his second
consecutive race at Richmond in a race that included
10 cautions for 71 laps.
March 24, 1968: David Pearson wins the final race on
dirt at Richmond. Richard Petty’s bid for his third win
in a row ends with an engine problem midway through
the race.
September 8, 1968: Richard Petty gets back to his
winning ways on the .625-mile paved track in the
187.5-mile Capital City 300. The race marks the first
paved race at Richmond.
April 13, 1969: Prior to the Richmond 500, the track
is re-measured at ½-mile and the race is lengthened
RACE RECAPS
to 250 miles (500 laps). Before the season, the track
becomes known as Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway.
David Pearson wins his sixth career race at Richmond.
March 1, 1970: Richard Petty wins his second
consecutive pole at Richmond but finishes 15.1 seconds
behind race winner James Hylton. Petty led the first
303 laps.
March 7, 1971: Dave Marcis starts from the pole but
finishes 10 laps down to race-winner Richard Petty. An
estimated crowd of 14,500 was on hand.
November 14, 1971: Richard Petty’s dominance
continues, winning by more than a lap ahead of Bobby
Allison. Petty led the final 299 laps.
February 25, 1973: Buddy Baker gives up the lead on
Lap 437 and finishes second behind Richard Petty. The
race features 20 lead changes among eight drivers.
September 9, 1973: Richard Petty wins the Capital
City 500 in 4 hours, 13 minutes, 17 seconds (longest
race in Richmond history), more than two laps ahead
of runner-up Cale Yarborough. Darrell Waltrip, despite
starting second in his first race at Richmond, completes
only four laps and finishes 26th after an accident.
February 24, 1974: NASCAR shortens several races by
10% to help offset a national energy crisis. Shortened
from 271 to 243.9 miles, Bobby Allison snaps Richard
Petty’s streak of wins at Richmond and edges “The
MEDIA INFO
September 13, 1970: “The King” Richard Petty begins
his dominance of Richmond, winning the first of seven
consecutive races. The race is lengthened again to 500
laps, 271 miles. Petty led all but 12 laps and finished
more than two laps ahead of Bobby Allison.
September 10, 1972: Bobby Allison taps Richard Petty
from behind, sending “The King” up on the guardrail,
where he hits a backup fence and bounces back onto
the racetrack. Petty never loses his composure or the
lead and goes on to win the race, his fifth in a row at
Richmond. Petty went on to win two more consecutive
races and a total of 13 at the track.
GENERAL INFO
September 7, 1969: The track is re-measured at .542mile, a distance that would remain constant until the
track is rebuilt to its current ¾-mile configuration in
1988. The race length is 462 laps and Bobby Allison
takes home the $5,000 first-place prize.
February 27, 1972: Bobby Allison wins the first of five
consecutive pole positions at Richmond. In his first race
at Richmond, Richard Childress finishes 29th. Petty
again defeats Allison by more than a lap.
TRACK INFO
NSCS
NXS
Cale Yarborough - September 12, 1976
NXS
NSCS
TRACK INFO
MEDIA INFO
GENERAL INFO
RACE RECAPS
King” by four seconds, the closest margin of victory to
that point.
Waltrip edges Bobby Allison for the win. Richard Petty
falters again with car troubles and finishes 20th.
September 8, 1974: Richard Petty was back in Victory
Lane after a caution-filled Capital City 500 seen by
approximately 20,000 fans. Petty won the pole and
bested Benny Parsons by a half lap. There were 13
cautions for 123 laps.
March 11, 1979: Dale Earnhardt makes his debut at
Richmond. Bobby Allison starts from the pole and leads
the first 156 laps, but Cale Yarborough is too strong and
wins by six seconds over Allison. A very tame race, there
are only two cautions for eight laps.
February 23, 1975: “The King” Richard Petty wins his
ninth out of ten straight races at Richmond—this one
by more than six laps.
September 9, 1979: Polesitter Dale Earnhardt records
his first top-five at Richmond (fourth), but finishes a
lap behind race winner Bobby Allison. The race ends in
only 2 hours, 41 minutes, 23 seconds and Allison leads
369 laps.
October 12, 1975: Darrell Waltrip records his first
win at Richmond, beating Lennie Pond by more than
a lap. Benny Parsons won the pole but finished 18th.
Surprisingly, Richard Petty’s dominance comes to an
end. He finishes last (28th) after an engine problem.
March 7, 1976: The Richmond 400 is shortened to
216.8 miles (400 laps). The 400-lap distance remains
through today, even after the track is reconfigured to
¾-mile in 1988. Dave Marcis, who is running a distant
fifth when a light rain starts with 10 laps to go, remains
on the track when the leaders pit after a caution. The
rain intensifies and Marcis goes on to win the race
without ever leading a Green Flag lap.
September 12, 1976: Cale Yarborough wins the
Richmond first-place prize, which tops $10,000 for the
first time. Yarborough edges Bobby Allison by a car
length in his Junior Johnson Chevrolet before a crowd
of 20,000.
February 27, 1977: Cale Yarborough wins his second
consecutive Richmond race. The race was shortened to
245 laps due to rain and the race ended under red flag
conditions with Darrell Waltrip and Benny Parsons in
second and third, respectively. Virginia racing legend
Ricky Rudd makes his Richmond debut and finishes
26th.
September 11, 1977: Neil Bonnett takes the checkered
flag seven seconds ahead of Richard Petty after
starting second. Janet Guthrie finishes 12th for the
second consecutive race at Richmond.
February 26, 1978: Benny Parsons takes the lead on
Lap 324 and holds on for victory, 2.6 seconds ahead of
Lennie Pond. Parsons takes home a prize of $13,200.
Richard Petty finished 22nd after a problem with the
rear end. Dick Brooks, driving a Junie Donlavey Ford,
finishes fifth.
September 10, 1978: Darrell Waltrip wins a thriller
in the Capital City 400. Winning by just one second,
February 24, 1980: The purse at Richmond tops
$100,000 for the first time as Darrell Waltrip wins the
race in his Gatorade Chevrolet to collect $17,800. He led
Bobby Allison by only 1.2 seconds at the checkered flag.
Rounding out a star-studded top-five are Richard Petty,
Dave Marcis and Dale Earnhardt.
September 7, 1980: Bobby Allison and Richard Petty
compete in another classic battle. Allison comes out
on top, edging Petty by two seconds before a crowd of
20,000. Cale Yarborough won the pole but completed
only 145 laps.
February 22, 1981: Morgan Shepherd wins the pole
and leads the first 150 laps, but Darrell Waltrip hangs
Bobby Allison - September 12, 1982
on for a victory ahead of Virginian Ricky Rudd. Dale
Earnhardt records his fourth consecutive top-ten at
Richmond.
September 13, 1981: Mark Martin makes his first
appearance at Richmond a memorable one. Martin
claims the pole in his first try, although he finished in
seventh place. Benny Parsons hangs on for a victory by
three car lengths, just ahead of Harry Gant. The race,
titled the Wrangler Sanfor-Set 400, is the first with a
title sponsor.
RACE RECAPS
September 7, 1986: Tim Richmond wins the Wrangler
Jeans Indigo 400 just two car lengths ahead of Dale
Earnhardt. Usually a force to reckon with, Darrell
Waltrip finishes last after a transmission problem
forces him out of the race.
September 12, 1982: Bobby Allison beats Tim
Richmond by 17 seconds after starting from the pole to
claim victory. Morgan Shepherd, who started the race,
was relieved by Dale Earnhardt, finishing 12th.
March 8, 1987: Dale Earnhardt wows a crowd of 30,000
with a win, just 0.46 seconds ahead of Geoff Bodine.
Starting from the pole, Alan Kulwicki finished sixth on
the lead lap.
September 13, 1987: Alan Kulwicki wins his second
consecutive pole but doesn’t fare well in the Wrangler
February 27, 1983: Ricky Rudd starts from the pole
but has engine problems and finishes 28th out of 32.
Dale Earnhardt leads 81 laps and finishes 1.1 seconds
behind winner Bobby Allison.
MEDIA INFO
September 11, 1983: A first-place prize of $39,925
goes to Bobby Allison, as he wins his second race at
Richmond in a row. Ricky Rudd finishes less than a
second behind Allison, followed by polesitter Darrell
Waltrip.
September 9, 1984: Darrell Waltrip starts from the
pole for the third consecutive race at Richmond and
leads 321 laps on his way to a victory worth $46,550.
Ricky Rudd finishes three seconds behind.
September 8, 1985: Twenty-five of 30 cars were
running when Darrell Waltrip edged Terry Labonte by
a car length for victory in front of 28,000 fans. Geoff
Bodine started from the pole but finished seventh.
February 21, 1988: The race marks the first at the
newly-named Richmond International Raceway, the
name the track still carries today. Neil Bonnett wins
the final race at the ½-mile configuration. Following
the race, a massive reconstruction begins, as the track
is reconfigured to ¾-mile and the seating capacity
is expanded to 50,000. Bulldozers begin work on the
project immediately after the Pontiac Excitement 400.
September 11, 1988: Davey Allison wins the first race
on the newly-paved, new ¾-mile configuration. Allison
claimed the pole, running a lap at 122.850 mph (21.978
seconds)—more than 28 mph faster than the pole
speed in February 1988.
March 26, 1989: Rusty Wallace wins the first of six
races at Richmond International Raceway. Alan Kulwicki
is runner-up, finishing 0.41 seconds behind Wallace. A
sellout crowd of 50,000 was on hand.
September 10, 1989: Rusty Wallace wins his second
consecutive race at Richmond International Raceway,
NXS
February 23, 1986: With just three laps to go, race
leader Dale Earnhardt clips the rear quarter panel of
Darrell Waltrip after Waltrip overtakes him in Turn
Three. The accident sends Waltrip into the guardrail
and Kyle Petty into the lead and onto Victory Lane for
his first NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory. Petty joins
his father Richard and grandfather Lee as winners at
Richmond. Richmond International Raceway is the only
track where all three have won races in NASCAR’s top
division.
Jeans Indigo 400. Kulwicki finishes 23rd after a crash
and Dale Earnhardt wins his second consecutive race
at Richmond.
NSCS
February 24, 1985: Dale Earnhardt earns his first
victory at Richmond, just 0.3 seconds ahead of Geoff
Bodine. Darrell Waltrip was once again on the pole and
finished third.
Dale Earnhardt celebrates after winning his second
consecutive race at Richmond on September 13, 1987.
TRACK INFO
February 26, 1984: The legend of Ricky Rudd begins.
A little more than a week after sustaining serious
facial injuries in a crash at Daytona and then running a
qualifying race there using tape to hold his eyes open,
Rudd shows up at Richmond with two black and blue
eyes at the Miller High Life 400. Rusty Wallace makes
his Richmond debut and finishes 16th.
GENERAL INFO
February 21, 1982: The 400-lap race is shortened to
250 laps due to rain. Dave Marcis claims the victory
after taking the lead on Lap 246. Darrell Waltrip,
starting from the pole, is credited with a 27th-place
finish in front of 28,000.
RACE RECAPS
NXS
NSCS
TRACK INFO
MEDIA INFO
GENERAL INFO
beating Dale Earnhardt to the checkered flag by more
than seven seconds. Bill Elliott finished 18th after
starting from the pole.
February 25, 1990: Mark Martin wins his first NASCAR
Winston Cup Series race at Richmond International
Raceway, edging Dale Earnhardt by three seconds.
Martin’s car fails to pass post-race inspection due to an
illegal part on the car.
September 9, 1990: It’s the same two drivers but a
different story at the Miller Genuine Draft 400, as Dale
Earnhardt edges Mark Martin by a second. Ernie Irvan
starts from the pole and finishes 12th, a lap down. The
race featured 17 lead changes among 6 drivers.
February 24, 1991: Dale Earnhardt wins his fifth
career NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at Richmond
International Raceway. His average speed of 105.397
mph is a record at the time. Starting from the pole,
Davey Allison finishes 12th. Ricky Rudd finishes second
in his Tide Chevrolet.
September 7, 1991: Harry Gant wins the first race
“under the lights” at Richmond International Raceway,
the second of four straight races he wins that month,
giving him the nickname “Mr. September.”
Rusty Wallace - September 9, 1995
To date, no other driver has ever won the pole for both
Richmond races in the same year since. Terry Labonte’s
Kellogg’s Chevrolet edges Jeff Gordon by 1.79 seconds
after taking the lead on Lap 373.
March 8, 1992: Bill Elliott edges Alan Kulwicki by 18
inches for the win. Elliott started from the pole and led
three times for a total of 348 laps.
March 5, 1995: Terry Labonte wins his second
consecutive race at Richmond, this time edging Dale
Earnhardt by 1.25 seconds. Labonte earns $82,950 for
the win after starting 24th. Pole winner Jeff Gordon
finishes 36th.
September 12, 1992: Rusty Wallace wins his third
race at Richmond International Raceway at the Miller
Genuine Draft 400, driving the Miller Genuine Draft
Pontiac in front of a sold-out crowd of 64,000.
September 9, 1995: Rusty Wallace wins for the
fifth time at Richmond International Raceway. Dale
Earnhardt, who started first, finishes third—one spot
behind previous winner Terry Labonte.
March 7, 1993: Davey Allison holds off Rusty Wallace at
an average speed of 107.709, a record at the time. The
race marks the debut of Jeff Gordon, Kenny Wallace and
Bobby Labonte at Richmond.
March 3, 1996: Eleven drivers take turns leading the
field a record 25 times. Jeff Gordon takes the lead for
good on Lap 351, beating Dale Jarrett by 0.56 second.
Terry Labonte’s success at Richmond continues with
another pole and finishes eighth.
September 11, 1993: Rookie Bobby Labonte wins the
pole but falls back, giving way to another Rusty Wallace
victory in the Miller Genuine Draft 400. Bill Elliott
finishes second, followed by Dale Earnhardt and Ricky
Rudd.
September 7, 1996: Ernie Irvan finds Victory Lane
again by beating Jeff Gordon by only 0.10 second. Mark
Martin wins the pole and Dale Earnhardt finishes a
disappointing 20th.
March 6, 1994: Ernie Irvan finishes ahead of Rusty
Wallace, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt to win the
Pontiac Excitement 400 and $66,175. Ted Musgrave
starts from the pole, while Jeff and Ward Burton, Joe
Nemechek and Jeremy Mayfield make their first NASCAR
Winston Cup Series starts at Richmond International
Raceway.
September 10, 1994: Ted Musgrave completes a pole
sweep but fails to finish in the top ten for either race.
March 2, 1997: Rusty Wallace wins for the sixth and
final time at Richmond International Raceway. Terry
Labonte claims another pole position and only three
drivers finish the race on the lead lap.
September 6, 1997: Dale Jarrett sets a race record at
109.047 mph (2 hours, 45 minutes, 4 seconds) in the
Exide Batteries 400. Only three caution flags fly for 16
laps.
RACE RECAPS
September 12, 1998: Jeff Burton and Jeff Gordon hook
up for the closest finish in NASCAR action at Richmond
International Raceway. Burton edges Gordon by just
0.051 second after starting third. His winnings top
$100,000 for the first time at Richmond.
May 5, 2001: Tony Stewart takes the lead from Rusty
Wallace on Lap 362 and stays there, edging Jeff Gordon
by less than a second for the win. Mark Martin starts
from the pole and finishes 13th. Future champion Kurt
Busch finishes 18th in his rookie debut at Richmond.
September 8, 2001: Virginia native Ricky Rudd loses
the lead after being bumped from behind by Kevin
Harvick in the waning laps of the race. With just six laps
to go, Rudd bumps Harvick back from behind to re-take
the lead en route to a trip to Victory Lane for his second
win at Richmond.
May 6, 2000: Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins the Pontiac
Excitement 400 by just 0.159 second ahead of Terry
Labonte. Driving the Budweiser Chevrolet, Earnhardt
took the lead from his father on lap 370 on his way to
the checkered flag. Dale Earnhardt Sr. finished 10th.
September 7, 2002: Matt Kenseth claims a $163,585
paycheck after winning the Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400.
Ryan Newman finishes second for the second straight
race at Richmond. Rookie Jimmie Johnson won the pole
and finished 13th.
September 9, 2000: Dale Earnhardt is in the
spotlight again, but finishes second to Jeff Gordon.
May 3, 2003: Another sold-out crowd witnesses a
record fifteen cautions in a rain-shortened 393-lap
TRACK INFO
September 11, 1999: Future champion Tony Stewart
wins his first ever Cup race by edging teammate Bobby
Labonte. Thirty-nine drivers are running at the finish,
tied for the most in Richmond history.
May 5, 2002: Tony Stewart leads only once—the
final 28 laps—to take home a win. Ryan Newman’s
first NASCAR Winston Cup Series start at Richmond
International Raceway is a memorable one as Newman
leads 48 laps and finishes second to Stewart. Jimmie
Johnson finishes 31st in his rookie campaign.
MEDIA INFO
May 15, 1999: Dale Jarrett beats Mark Martin to the
finish line by 0.616 second. Jeff Gordon starts on the
pole but finishes 12 laps down. Rich Bickle climbed
from 42nd to finish 10th, the greatest in improvement
in starting position in Richmond history.
The race would be the last for Earnhardt at Richmond
International Raceway. Raybestos Rookie of the Year
winner Matt Kenseth finishes 32nd.
GENERAL INFO
June 6, 1998: NASCAR’s top series visits Richmond
International Raceway in June and Terry Labonte wins
under caution ahead of Dale Jarrett and Rusty Wallace.
Labonte takes the lead on Lap 398 after leading five
times previously.
NSCS
NXS
Kasey Kahne celebrates his first Cup win on May 14, 2005.
Denny Hamlin takes the checkered flag at his hometown track.
September 6, 2003: Ryan Newman leads the final 124
laps for victory at the inaugural Chevy Rock & Roll 400.
Jeremy Mayfield finishes second, followed by a pair of
Virginians—Ricky Rudd and Jeff Burton.
September 11, 2004: Jeremy Mayfield makes history in
winning the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 in dramatic fashion,
as he races his way into the top ten and earns a berth
in the inaugural “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.”
Richmond International Raceway serves as the final
race before “The Chase,” reinforcing it as one of the
premier stops on the circuit.
NXS
TRACK INFO
race. Joe Nemechek came out on top, ahead of Bobby
Labonte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Nine cars are officially
out after accidents.
NSCS
MEDIA INFO
GENERAL INFO
RACE RECAPS
May 15, 2004: Rookie Brian Vickers sets a new pole
record at 129.983 mph (20.772), which still stands
today, and finishes eighth. Dale Earnhardt Jr. completes
a spectacular burnout after taking the checkered flag
1.481 seconds ahead of Jimmie Johnson.
May 14, 2005: Starting from the pole, Kasey Kahne
earns his first career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series
victory by winning the Chevy American Revolution 400.
Rookie of the Year Kyle Busch finishes fourth.
September 11, 2005: Defending champion Kurt Busch
wins the final race before the “Chase for the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup,” finishing ahead of Matt Kenseth and Greg
Biffle, both of whom make “The Chase.” Kurt’s younger
brother, Kyle, finishes fourth for the second straight
race at Richmond.
May 6, 2006: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. edges his friend and
online gaming opponent Denny Hamlin by .572 second.
The win marks Earnhardt’s third victory at Richmond
International Raceway. Hamlin, a native of Chesterfield,
VA, makes his first Cup start at America’s Premier Short
Track in front of his hometown fans. Hamlin leads 19
laps but loses his position on Lap 349.
September 9, 2006: Kevin Harvick completes a perfect
weekend by winning the Chevy Rock & Roll 400, one
day after capturing the Emerson Radio 250 NASCAR
Busch Series checkered flag. Tony Stewart misses the
Chase for the first time after finishing 18th. Stewart
is knocked out by a surging Kasey Kahne, who finishes
third.
May 5, 2007: Jimmie Johnson records his first
Richmond victory in daylight, as the race was
postponed one day due to inclement weather. Johnson
held off teammate Kyle Busch to win the first Car of
Tomorrow race at America’s Premier Short Track and
continue the Hendrick dominance in COT races.
September 8, 2007: Hendrick Motorsports continues
its COT dominance as Jimmie Johnson wins his second
consecutive Cup race at Richmond, putting to bed the
concern about his bad luck at America’s Premier Short
Track.
May 3, 2008: The Crown Royal Presents The Dan Lowry
RACE RECAPS
September 7, 2008: Running a day late because of
inclement weather, the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 is won
for the second straight year by Jimmie Johnson. With
the momentum heading into the 10-race Chase for the
NASCAR Sprint Cup, Johnson goes on to win his third
consecutive series championship, tying Cale Yarborough
for the most in a row.
September 7, 2013: Carl Edwards edged out Kurt
Busch in the final two laps to earn his first ever Sprint
Cup Series win at RIR.
April 26, 2014: Joey Logano unseats Kevin Harvick
in a thrilling four-way battle decided in the final laps.
Logano claims his first Richmond win over Jeff Gordon.
September 6, 2014: Brad Keselowski takes home
his first Sprint Cup Series win in dominating fashion,
leading for a track record 383 laps and completing the
2014 Penske sweep of Richmond.
MEDIA INFO
May 2, 2009: Kyle Busch dominates the final 50 laps
to win the Crown Royal Presents The Russ Friedman
400, beating Tony Stewart by more than two seconds to
complete a Richmond weekend sweep. Busch also won the
Friday night Lipton Tea 250 Nationwide Series race.
history.
April 27, 2013: Kevin Harvick vaulted from seventh to
first during a Green-White-Checkered finish to pick up
win of the 2013 season, and kept Juan Pablo Montoya
from picking up his first ever oval win.
September 12, 2009: “One Last Race to Make The
Chase” again lives up to its billing. The Chase field is
unsettled until the final lap, as Brian Vickers edges Kyle
Busch by just eight points for the 12th spot in NASCAR’s
playoffs. Denny Hamlin finally takes the checkered flag in
a Cup Series race at his hometown track.
TRACK INFO
May 1, 2010: Pole-sitter Kyle Busch surges past Jeff
Gordon on a restart with five laps remaining in the Crown
Royal Presents The Heath Calhoun 400 to earn his second
consecutive May Cup win at Richmond. A late-race pass
in Turns 3 and 4 allows Busch to beat Gordon by .755
seconds.
September 11, 2010: Local favorite Denny Hamlin
clinches the top seed in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint
Cup in dominant fashion, winning his second-straight
September stop at his hometown track.
NSCS
April 30, 2011: Kyle Busch records his 3rd Sprint Cup
Series victory at RIR.
NXS
September 10, 2011: With Chase spots on the line and
tensions high, Kevin Harvick crosses the finish line just
ahead of Carl Edwards to win the Wonderful Pistachios
400.
April 28, 2012: Pulling away from Dale Earnhardt
Jr after a restart with eight laps to go, Kyle Busch
streaked to his fourth straight victory in the spring race
at Richmond.
September 8, 2012: Clint Bowyer edged out Jeff Gordon
by 1.198 seconds for one of the tightest finishes in RIR
GENERAL INFO
400 features one of the wildest endings at Richmond.
After Denny Hamlin leads 381 laps in front of his
hometown crowd, a flat tire gives Dale Earnhardt Jr.
the lead. Earnhardt Jr.’s last win came at the inaugural
Crown Royal 400 in May 2006. Victory looked to be
within his grasp, but he and Kyle Busch make contact
in the closing laps, as Clint Bowyer squeaks by the two
and captures the checkered flag.
Clint Bowyer celebrates a tight win over Jeff Gordon
SPRINT CUP SERIES
SPRINT CUP SERIES
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
TRACK RECORDS
Most Poles
8, Richard Petty,
Bobby Allison
Most Top 5’s
34, Richard Petty
Most Top 10’s
41, Richard Petty
Most Wins by
Car Make
36, Chevrolet
Most Starts
63, Richard Petty
Most Consecutive
Starts
Most Consecutive
Pole Positions
Most Consecutive
Wins
Most Races Led,
Career
Most Times Led,
Career
46, Richard Petty
Most Laps Led, Career
5,128; Richard Petty
Car Owner Wins
15, Petty Enterprises
Races Swept
in Same Year
7, Richard Petty
34, Richard Petty
84, Richard Petty
NXS
Jimmie Johnson
(2007)
Rusty Wallace
(1989)
Dale Earnhardt
(1987)
Bobby Allison
(1983)
Richard Petty
(1967, 1971, 1972, 1973)
David Pearson
(1966)
Ted Musgrave
(1994)
Alan Kulwicki
(1987)
Darrell Waltrip
(1984)
Bobby Allison
(1972, 1973)
Richard Petty
(1970)
Ned Jarrett
(1960, 1964)
NSCS
Poles Swept
in Same Year
5, Bobby Allison
TRACK INFO
13, Richard Petty
MEDIA INFO
Most Wins
GENERAL INFO
CAREER TRACK RECORDS
TRACK RECORDS
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
NXS
NSCS
TRACK INFO
MEDIA INFO
GENERAL INFO
RACE RECORDS
Qualifying Record
130.599 mph, Jeff Gordon, Federated Auto Parts 400, 9/6/04
Race Record
109.047 mph Dale Jarrett, Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400, 9/6/97
Most Laps Led
383, Brad Keselowski, Federated Auto Parts 400, 9/6/14
Race Winner, Fewest Times Led
One (eight times). Most recently, Clint Bowyer, Crown Royal Presents The Dan Lowry
400, 5/3/08
Non-Race Winner, Most Times Led
Nine, Tony Stewart, Chevy American Revolution 400, 5/14/05
Non-Race Winner, Most Laps Led
381, Denny Hamlin, Crown Royal Presents The Dan Lowry 400, 5/3/08
Most Lead Drivers
12 (four times), Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400, 5/6/07;
Chevy American Revolution 400, 5/15/04; Chevy Rock & Roll 400, 9/6/03; Wrangler
Jeans Indigo 400, 9/7/86
Fewest Lead Drivers
One (five times). Most recently, Capital City 300, 9/9/62
Most Lead Changes
25 (twice), Pontiac Excitement 400, 3/3/96; Pontiac Excitement 400, 2/24/91
Fewest Lead Changes
Zero (five times). Most recently, Capital City 300, 9/9/62
Most Cautions
15, (twice), Crown Royal Presents The Russ Friedman 400, 5/2/09; Pontiac Excitement
400, 5/3/03
Fewest Cautions
Zero, Richmond 400, 3/7/76
Most Caution Laps
123 (twice), Capital City 500, 9/8/74; Capital City 500, 9/9/73
Fewest Caution Laps
Zero, Richmond 400, 3/7/76
Most Drivers on Lead Lap
32, Chevy Rock & Roll 400, 9/7/08
Fewest Drivers on Lead Lap
One (22 times). Most recently, Capital City 500, 10/12/75
Most Drivers Running at Finish
43, Chevy Rock & Roll 400, 9/7/08
Fewest Drivers Running at Finish
Six, Grand National Race No. 17, 4/23/61
Most Laps Led by Race Winner
(500 laps)
488, David Pearson, Capital City 500, 9/13/70
Fewest Laps Led by Race Winner
Four, Kyle Petty, Miller High Life 400, 2/23/86
Closest Margin of Victory
18 inches, Bill Elliott defeated Alan Kulwicki, Pontiac Excitement 400, 3/8/92
Largest Margin of Victory
Six laps, plus. Richard Petty defeated Lennie Pond, Richmond 500, 2/13/75
Greatest Improvement in Starting
Position, Race Winner
30 (31st to 1st), Clint Bowyer, Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400, 5/3/08
Greatest Improvement in Starting
Position, Non-Race Winner
32 twice: (42nd to 10th), Rich Bickle, Pontiac Excitement 400, 5/15/99;
(34th to 2nd), Kyle Busch, Crown Royal Presents the Jim Stewart 400, 5/6/07
Longest Race
4 hours, 13 minutes, 17 seconds, Capital City 500, 9/9/73
Shortest Race
1 hour, 34 minutes, 8 seconds, Grand National Race #43, 10/23/60
TRACK RECORDS
GENERAL INFO
MEDIA INFO
XFINITY SERIES
TRACK INFO
NSCS
NXS
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
NXS
NSCS
TRACK INFO
MEDIA INFO
GENERAL INFO
TRACK RECORDS
Most Wins
6, Kevin Harvick
Most Poles
5, Michael Waltrip, Tommy Ellis
Most Top 5’s
15, Kevin Harvick
Most Top 10’s
20, Mark Martin
Most Competitive
Laps
7,473, Kenny Wallace (5604.75
miles)
Most Starts
34, Kenny Wallace
Most Consecutive
Starts
16, Kevin Harvick
Most Consecutive
Pole Positions
3, Tommy Ellis (9/83, 2/84, 9/84)
Most Consecutive
Wins
3, Kevin Harvick (9/05, 5/06, 9/06)
and Harry Gant (2/91, 9/91, 3/92)
Most Races Led,
Career
16, Mark Martin
Most Times Led,
Career
38, Mark Martin
Most Laps Led,
Career
1,205, Mark Martin
Races Swept
in Same Year
Brad Keselowski (2013)
Kevin Harvick (2006)
Jimmy Spencer (2001)
Mark Martin (1993)
Harry Gant (1991)
Butch Lindley (1982)
Poles Swept in
Same Year
Michael Waltrip (1990)
Tommy Ellis (1984)
Five-Time Race
Winners
Mark Martin
(9/87, 3/93,9/93,3,97,5,99)
Four-Time Race
Winners
Kyle Busch (5/04, 9/07, 5/09, 9/11),
Harry Grant (9/88, 2/91, 9/91, 3/92)
Three-Time Race
Winners
Carl Edwards (5/05, 9/08, 9/09), Dale
Earnhardt, Jr. (9/02, 9/99, 9/98), Kenny
Wallace (9/96, 3/95, 9/94)
Car Owner Wins
6, Jack Roush
Most wins by car
make
20, Chevrolet
XFINITY SERIES
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
RACE RECORDS
Race winner,
most laps led
236 (twice). Kyle Busch, FUNAI 250,
5/14/04; Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Autolite
Platinum 250, 9/11/98
Race winner,
fewest laps led
One, Carl Edwards, FUNAI 250, 5/13/05
Race winner,
most times led
Non-race winner,
most times led
Six, Mark Martin, Autolite Platinum
250, 9/10/93
One (11 times). Most recently
Carl Edwards, Virginia 529 College
Savings 250, 9/11/09
Eight, Mark Martin, Autolite Platinum
250, 9/8/95
Non-race winner,
most laps led
171, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.,
Hardee’s 250, 6/5/98
Closest margin of
victory
0.105 second, Jeff Green over Matt
Kenseth, Hardee’s 250, 05/05/2000
Largest margin of
victory
10 seconds, Dale Earnhardt over Dale
Jarrett, Freedlander 200, 9/6/86
Most lead changes
20, Autolite Platinum 250, 9/8/95
Fewest lead changes
Zero (twice). Miller Time 150, 9/8/84
and Eastern 150, 2/26/83
Most lead drivers
Fewest lead drivers
One, Miller Time 150, 9/8/84
Most caution flags
14, Hardee’s 250, 5/2/03
Fewest caution flags
3 (9/1995, 9/2012)
Most caution laps
93, Hardee’s 250, 5/2/03
Fewest caution laps
Race winner,
fewest times led
NSCS
104.928 mph (1 hour, 47 minutes,
13 seconds), Dale Jarrett, Autolite
Platinum 250, 9/8/95
TRACK INFO
Race record
MEDIA INFO
129.348 mph (20.874 seconds),
Kyle Busch, FUNAI 250, 05/13/2004
GENERAL INFO
Qualifying record
Most drivers to finish on 30, 5/5/06 Circuit City 250 Presented
lead lap
by FUNAI
Two, Hardee’s Frisco 250, 3/5/94
Greatest improvement
in starting position,
race winner
38 (39th to 1st), Carl Edwards,
Virginia 529 College Savings 250,
9/11/09
Greatest improvement
in starting position,
non-race winner
35 (41st to 6th), Jeff Burton, Hardee’s
250, 3/1/97
NXS
Fewest drivers to finish
on lead lap
Most cars running
at end
Fewest cars
running at end
41, Hardee’s 250, 6/5/98
14, Wrangler Jeans 150, 2/25/84

2015 Media Guide - Richmond International Raceway

Transcription

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